Visiting the renal unit

Patient Information Leaflet

Introduction

This leaflet contains information for visitors of patients who are having haemodialysis in the Renal Unit.

Visiting patients in the Renal Unit is discouraged as it is a hazardous environment, with risks from equipment and liquids. In addition, patients who are having haemodialysis are often more likely to get infections. Therefore, in order to reduce the risks to them, we try to keep the numbers of people in the department as low as we can.

If your relative or friend is also a patient on one of our wards, you can visit them there. However, unfortunately if your relative or friend is not staying on one of our wards, we cannot allow them to have visitors.

Visiting dialysis patients on a ward

We will also do our best to arrange for dialysis to take place outside of normal visiting times. However, as this is not always possible, we will allow you to visit your relative on the Renal Unit but you may be asked to wait in the reception area if nursing staff are carrying out a procedure that requires access to the bed space.

Where possible, we would ask that you avoid visiting the unit between 12 noon and 3pm as this is our busiest time of the day carrying out dialysis procedures.

It is always advisable to ring the Renal Unit before setting out as we will have a better idea of what time your relative or friend will be with us in the department.

Please share this information with other people who may wish to visit your relative or friend.

If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand, please contact the Russells Hall Hospital switchboard number on 01384 456111 and ask for the relevant department who issued this leaflet.

If you have any feedback on this patient information leaflet please email dgft.patient.information@nhs.net

This leaflet can be made available in large print, audio version and in other languages, please call 0800 073 0510.

Originator: Helen Perkins, Bobbie Bedford. Date reviewed: November 2022. Next review due: August 2025. Version: 4. DGH ref: DGH/PIL/01221.